Surrey · London and the South East
Chimney survey in East Shalford, Surrey
Get a clear view of the chimney stack at a property in East Shalford. We visit on weekdays and at weekends.
- Loose, cracked or missing pots
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Damp patches on chimney breasts
Chimney surveys for homes and businesses in East Shalford
A chimney stands up above the roof, exposed to wind, rain and frost on every side. In time, flaunching cracks, mortar washes out and flashings come loose. Water then gets into the stack and can show as damp on a chimney breast or a stain in the loft. We record what we find with photographs and recommendations. We are often asked to look into damp on a chimney breast inside and spalled or crumbling bricks, on lead flashings, brick chimney stacks and chimney pots and cowls.
Older buildings in small places like East Shalford may be listed or in a conservation area. That can affect what materials can be used when work is done, so check with the council before planning anything. A roof report helps you plan work with that in mind. Older materials like clay tiles, slate and stone are frequently matched when work is done.
The report works through the roof section by section, from the coverings down to the gutters, with a note and a photo for each point. You’ll see the good as well as the bad.
- Place
- East Shalford (GU4)
- Region
- Surrey
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Emailed report with photos and recommendations
- When we survey
- Weekdays and weekends
- Cover
- PI and public liability insurance
- Phone
- 07833 053749
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
What a chimney survey looks like in East Shalford
With Chilworth Manor about 0.9 miles east, East Shalford sits in an area with a long building history. Older homes in the wider area often have features worth a closer look, like lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years, and the council can say whether a home is in a conservation area. Older houses across Surrey often have handmade clay tiles, and many have tile-hanging. Some old buildings in Surrey and Sussex have Horsham stone slab roofs. Whatever the covering, it’s often the fixings, flashings, valleys and gutters that give out first.
If your house is among the older ones in the streets near Church of St Thomas, the nails, lead and mortar on the roof may be wearing out even where the slates or tiles look fine. Landlords with a home close to Shalford station may find that the gap between tenancies is a good time to have the roof looked at.
East Shalford is about 2 miles south-east of Guildford, in Surrey. We carry out chimney surveys for homes and businesses in East Shalford. Across Surrey, we cover East Shalford and the places around it.
Surveys in GU4 work the same way as everywhere else we cover. Close by, we survey roofs in Shalford (1 mile south-west), Chilworth (1 mile east), Broadford (1 mile south-west), Artington (1 mile west) and Peasmarsh (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Woking (7 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Epsom (15 miles north-east), Farnham (11 miles west), Egham (15 miles north) and Reigate (15 miles east).
Around East Shalford
Locally, jobs take us to homes and businesses close to Shalford Mill, Guildford High School and The Queen Victoria pub. East Shalford’s nearest station is Shalford station, roughly 0.7 miles south-west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include St. Luke’s Hospital (1.3 miles north) and Guildford Castle (1.4 miles north-west). Open spaces near East Shalford include St Martha's Hill and Pewley Down.
What else we do in East Shalford
Common roof problems in East Shalford
Removing a chimney breast inside can leave questions about how the stack is supported. We note what’s visible in the roof space and outside, and the report recommends a structural engineer if support is a concern.
Things that often lead to a survey include:
- Spalled or crumbling bricks
- Gaps where the stack meets the roof
- Disused chimneys trapping moisture
- Flaunching that has broken away
Homes near green spaces such as Shalford Mill can get more leaves in their gutters in autumn, and an overflowing gutter soon means a wet wall.
Questions to ask before booking
- If they fly a drone, whether they hold a CAA Flyer ID and Operator ID
- Which limits apply to the survey
- Whether the loft is part of the inspection
- What happens after the report arrives
Checking the roof from ground level
You can learn a lot from ground level. With binoculars, look for slipped or missing slates and tiles, gaps along the ridge and leaning chimneys. Please do not climb up for a closer look.
Watch the gutters in a downpour, from a window or the ground. Overflowing water can be a sign of a blockage or a gutter that has dropped.
What happens if roof problems are left?
Loose pots and bricks on a stack are a safety concern. Finding them early means they can be dealt with before they come down by a suitable contractor. Matching old materials, such as handmade tiles or stone slates, can take time to source. That is one more reason to find defects before they become urgent.
To find out what your survey will cost, phone 07833 053749 or send us an email and tell us about the roof. The price is agreed before a date is set.
Why us?
- Thermal imaging and drones used where they help
- 98% customer satisfaction
- Surveys seven days a week
- More than 5,000 surveys completed
See our cost guide or two real surveys.
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes an hour or two for most houses, though large, tall or awkward roofs take more time. Around East Shalford, older homes can have small or awkward roof spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. Only areas that can be reached safely are inspected.
- We start with the details: how many stacks, whether any are shared and any signs of damp.
- The stacks are looked at from ground level, from windows and from other safe vantage points.
- The pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, brickwork and flashings are checked and photographed.
- We check the chimney breasts and the stack in the roof space where we can reach them.
- We send a written report with photos, the defects found and what we recommend.
Getting ready for the survey
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the freeholder or managing agent
- Have any questions written down, so nothing gets missed
- Note where any stains or damp appear
Booking a survey
Buyers should book once an offer has been accepted, so you have the findings in time to act on them before you exchange. For any other survey, just phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email when you are ready.
Related advice
When you need someone else
We only report what can be seen safely on the day, so there are some things a survey cannot cover:
- Whether the flue is safe to use
- Whether a stack needs rebuilding on structural grounds
- Whether a gas appliance or its flue is safe
If you are not sure which survey you need, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. The full list of what we check.
What we check
- Flaunching
- Shared and party-wall stacks
- Chimney pots and cowls
- Brick chimney stacks
- Chimney breasts
- Lead flashings
East Shalford questions
Do you cover smaller places like East Shalford?
Yes, East Shalford is on our map. Villages and rural addresses get the same survey as a town house.
How do I find out if my home in East Shalford is listed?
Historic England’s list shows listed buildings, and the local council can tell you about conservation areas. If a home is listed, changes that affect its special interest need listed building consent, and in a conservation area re-roofing in different materials may need permission.
Which parts of the chimney do you look at?
Every part of the stack we can see from safe positions: pots, cowls, flaunching, pointing, bricks and flashings. We also note leaning, redundant stacks and damp inside.
Is a leaning chimney dangerous?
Have it checked rather than leaving it. Leaning frequently comes from mortar breaking down unevenly. We record its condition with photographs, and a structural engineer can confirm whether it is stable.
Should a redundant chimney be removed?
A redundant chimney needs looking after like any other. Capping without airflow can lead to damp. We check how it’s capped and its condition, so you can plan what to do with it.
Is it the same as a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. Our survey is a roof survey, not a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey of the whole building. It focuses on the roof, so it sits alongside a building survey rather than replacing it.
How experienced are you?
Over 20 years and more than 5,000 surveys, across London and South East England.
Roof by roof
Chimney pots and cowls
A loose or cracked pot can fall from height. We record their condition with photos.
Rendered stacks
What’s behind the render cannot be seen without removing some, so the report explains what we could and couldn’t assess.